We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Humbargar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My view on “work life balance” has changed quite a bit in recent years. Likely the biggest driver was that nearly five years ago I had my first child. Becoming a parent forces you to reckon with your time and how you use your resources. You are faced with sometimes agonizingly slow drags on your time… like twice daily toddler tooth brushing sessions. Those are my nemesis. You are also faced with the reality that you have limited time left on this earth, and you want to make every minute count. We are all constantly mining for more time, more money, more amusement, more love. But at the end of the day, these are all ratios to one another. Less Time: More Money. More Money: More Amusement. More Time: More Love. And so on.

But what does it mean to make our time “count”? This is where I have lost — and found– myself as I get older.

I made a perplexing career decision in 2022. I took my first corporate job. While 7 months pregnant with my second born – who is just 20 months younger than my first born. Looking back, it is clear that this was a decision motivated by a fear of losing myself to parenthood. A fear of losing my professional status and respect as sharp and well informed in my field, to becoming “mom-ified” and viewed solely for the role I play in my kids’ lives. At the same time, I was not prepared to enter this role. I had never worked for a company with more than 10 people. My background was atypical of others entering into this type of position, and it showed. I had a constant sense of imposter syndrome.

I was honestly relieved when, just 2 years later, I was laid off. I could finally breath. I could re-evaluate my vocation. And I had to face a new reality – I can’t work as hard, or for as many hours, as I could in my early career. I couldn’t pop over to a networking event at 5pm on a whim. I couldn’t take a position with 20-30% travel. I couldn’t put in the 60-80 hour work weeks, couldn’t commit my sleeping hours to excel models, or sacrifice my health for the sake of a consistent paycheck. Maybe there will be a day when I go back to intense work, and it feels life-giving, but in this season I have other priorities.

There is really no such thing as “work life balance”. Just like there is no such thing as balance within the roles of a family, or a company, or a community. But there are methods to managing the imbalances of life.

Author and researcher Brene Brown has this concept called “the family gap plan.” It stems from the premise that relationships, particularly marriages, are not 50/50 arrangements. Some days everyone can bring 100%, that’s when we are really firing on all cylinders. But those days are rare, and only possible when we make choices that support each individual in having their needs met. Some days, we need to find ways to fill the gaps. If I have 20% to give and my husband has 60% , we have a 20% energy gap. It get’s filled by saying no, even to good things. It get’s filled by getting support from our village – grandparents, teachers, friends, hired help. We take the time we need to bring ourselves back to 100%. This concept can apply just as much to extended families, communities, classrooms, companies.

I’m setting out to do my best every day, and I support those around me to do their best. Sometimes I have more to give, sometimes less. But I also view myself as a gap filler for others in my community and I can only be that when my own energy needs are met too.

Prior to taking the aforementioned job, I had spent 4 years serving clients on my own terms through my place-focused consulting firm – Living City Ventures – and as a broker helping clients buy, sell, and lease spaces. I was in the driver’s seat, making judgement calls on which clients and projects to take on, how many to take on, and having full discretion to say “no”, even to good things. If I didn’t have the skills or the time, I could turn down the work. If I didn’t see an opportunity to add value, I would turn it down.

In the book “Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human” author John Mark Comer says “you can’t try to give something you didn’t even have to give in the first place” in reference to working at something where you lack skill or natural fit. To me, balance is doing the work that I am gifted at doing, have honed my skills and knowledge to be able to add value, and performing the amount of work that my energy level allows me to do, day in and day out. It is my job to take care of my needs so I can bring 100% to the table every day. That 100% is diced into the important areas of my life – my faith, my family, my vocation, and myself. Some seasons I give more to family, other seasons more to vocation, and others are devoted to self and spirit. This is how I can bring value to the world.

Today, I have learned that I was on the right path to begin with. I am a place-maker. I help people find the spaces they need to flourish. Whether that’s a new space for their business to grow, a new home for their family to grow, or an investment to help their wealth and financial impacts grow. I am a cultivator of better places for people. And this work gives me the freedom to build a life that is, by all traditional measures, pretty balanced and fulfilled.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a commercial real estate broker, investor, and place consultant, conducting brokerage work under Sherpa Commercial Real Estate and consulting through Living City Ventures. With over 12 years of experience in commercial space development – specifically retail and multifamily – I discovered in 2019 that I could bring significant value to clients on the transaction side. Prior to that, I served in an economic and community development role at the Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs, where I cultivated deep relationships and a broad understanding of the market across multiple sectors.

Over my career, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the development of over 1.7 million square feet of retail and multifamily space and played a key role in driving over $2 billion in investment in Downtown Colorado Springs. While I love working with investors and sellers of unique and mixed-use properties, my passion lies in helping communities have places that matter, and supporting small business owners to grow their brick-and-mortar presence—turning their visions into reality.

I come from a multi-generational small business family, deeply rooted in creating places that shape experiences. Long before “entertainment centers” became an asset class and industry, my great-grandmother was a pioneer in placemaking. She developed tourist destinations in Colorado Springs—motels, mini-golf courses, and what some might call “tourist traps”—that introduced visitors to something they had never seen before.

The place that shaped my childhood was Ghost Town Museum, a historical attraction in Colorado Springs that remains in my family’s ownership today. It stands as a testament to historic preservation, storytelling, and family legacy—three principles that influence my approach to real estate.

Growing up in a small business family taught me the power of place-based experiences—the moments that transform how people connect with a space. Whether it’s an unforgettable dining experience, a high-energy group fitness class, or a cozy café where you find comfort, or places to call home, these spaces enrich lives. And they are worth investing in.

For me, real estate isn’t just about transactions; it’s about creating places that inspire, foster growth, and bring people together. It’s about shaping communities and creating long-term, transformative wealth—not just for investors, but for the people who experience and rely on these spaces every day.

I aim to go beyond the deal. My goal is to be a trusted partner—someone who brings deep industry knowledge, sharp market insights, and an approachable, strategic mindset to every transaction. I thrive on finding hidden opportunities, uncovering undervalued assets, and helping my clients bring their visions to life.

Whether it’s a new investment, a redevelopment project, or a legacy business seeking to expand, I’m here to make great places happen—and to help my clients succeed in the process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1 – Welcome to Colorado Springs!
Pick up at Colorado Springs Airport – the best kept secret for those of us south of County Line – and head to lunch at Fargo’s Pizza in Colorado Springs for some quirky nostalgia. After debating whether Fargo’s pizza is actually amazing or terrible… we take a quick trip around Platte Furniture to see if there’s any unique furniture or decorative pieces I can’t live without. Then we head to Downtown Colorado Springs for some shopping! We spend the afternoon visiting a few favorites: Terra Verde, a quick pick me up at Story Coffee, peruse Redoux for some fun thrifty finds, pop in to Ladyfingers Letterpress for a special card or gift, then the Honey Collective. After that we’re heading to Castle Rock, my home base, to hang with the fam.

Day 2 – A Special day in Castle Rock
After a morning dog walk around Festival Park and a coffee from Crowfoot Valley Coffee, we head out for breakfast at Castle Rock Cafe, then shopping at The Emporium and The Barn. We pop in to Sugar Spoon Candies to load up on some sweet treats before an afternoon round of golf at Pradera Golf Club or Red Hawk Ridge, my two favorite courses nearby. After our round, we hit the town from Happy Hour to late night! First, beers at The Office (cheapest beer in town) then Block and Bottle for the Chicorones and Union Bistro for their rotating happy hour menu. Tribe for dinner then Provision for after dinner drinks if we are going full stop. We end the night checking out the new patio and fire pit at Bien y Tu.

Day 3 – The best of Denver
Today, the kids are with us, and we are hitting up The Denver Children’s Museum in the morning. We head over to Denver Central Market for lunch so that everyone can pick their favorite foods, then spend the afternoon strolling through the Denver Botanic Gardens — if we’re lucky, we can catch a concert there in the evening too. Drop the kids off for a session at Little Kitchen Academy

Day 4 – Mountain Bliss
Drive the back way up through Buena Vista, stopping at Crave BV for lunch, and stopping at Mt Antero Treasures to check out the latest locally mined Aquamarine gems, and maybe grab a beer at Eddyline or the hotel bar at the Surf Hotel. Head towards Mt Princeton Hot Springs for a day of soaking in the springs by the river, checking out chalk cliffs hit with a perfect ray of afternoon sun. If we’re lucky we get to do some glamping and cheese making at the Mountain Goat Lodge.

Day 5 – Ski Day
Get the kids on some ski’s for a lesson at Monarch Mountain for the day, then head back to Colorado Springs. Monarch is the perfect mountain for new skiers!

Last Day: Say our farewells after a beautiful drive back through Highway 24 into Colorado Springs. We stop at my family’s business, Ghost Town Museum, as our final stop and pan for gold, pick up final gifts, and get a nice selfie in an antique carriage for good measure. Say our goodbyes at the Colorado Springs Airport. What a great week!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Of course, I’ll start with my husband and my family. To my husband Cody, who is my rock. I am so thankful to have his stability, his candor, and his sensibility as my life’s sounding board. He encourages me to fly with ambition, yet also keeps me grounded. My kids, I could never imagine the joy that comes from these little beings and the added purpose they bring to my life. I am blessed to have my parents, in-laws, sister, and my sister in law within a 45 minute drive from our house. They are not only a support network to our young family, but also each any every one of them incredible people who nourish us in so many ways. I’m also lucky to have several extended family members who have always encouraged my out-of-the-box thinking. Special thanks to Deb Akers, Rick and Cindi Kyte, and my grandmother Jane Harris, who passed in 2022. Their artistry and unique ways of thinking about the world have been pivotal to my development as a human.

I am dedicated reader, and a big fan of personal growth topics. Shoutout to those mentioned in my response, Brene Brown and John Mark Comer, for their numerous works that have helped me see the world through a different lens.

Website: https://www.sarahhumbargar.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.humbargar.cre/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-humbargar-14126a26/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561326844183

Other: www.livingcityventures.com, www.sherpacre.com

Image Credits
Lauren MacKenzie Ren Creative, Allison Daniel Stellar Propeller

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